Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-31
FINCHUM HANGED.
THE EXECUTION OF A MURDERER AT
HAnRIsonBURa YESTERDAY.
Cool and Collected he Walks 70 the Scar
fold-No etruggle-History
OF the Crime,
Special telegram q the pIspa,chl

HARRISONDURG, VA, December d.
William Finchum was hanged here to-
day for the murder Of his brother. Fin
chum stepped, shrouded, from his cell at
11:45 a. NJ. and walked, unaided, q
distance OF forty yards to the gallows
erected in the Jail yard, the steps Of
which he assembled steadily. A short
prayer vas offered by Rev. o. s. Bunt-
ing. of the Episcopal Church. Tho
moose was then adjusted and, at a signal
from the sheriff, at IL: 55 the trap fell.
There was no struggle. At 1910 he was
pronounced dead by the physicians He
will be buried in the county poor lot.
HISTORY OF TUE CRIME.
On March 10, 1856, the dead body Of
Preston Finchum was found in the
woods near Elk-Run station, on the
Shenandoah Valley railroad. in the
eastern part OF the county, with a gun
shot wound in the head and his skull
beaten 10 q Jelly. The deed was com
mitted near the scene OF the celebrated
Lawson murder some years since.
William Finchum, brother OF the muir
dered man, was arrested on suspicion of
being the murderer. He was indicted
and arraigncd for the murder on
the Goth of July following, and after
trial of four days a verdict of guilty
of murder In tine first degree was rem
dered The prisoner appealed to the
Court Of Appeals from the sentence, but
on the Odd of September, 1887, that court
affirmed the Judgment and sentence OF
the court below. He was thereupOn SEN
fenced to be hanged on the 10Th instant,
but Governor Lee granted him respite
Of fifteen days.
On the trialit was shown that on the
morning of the murder the deceased left
his home early, stating to nelghbor
that he was to meet his brother VIII
liam Mt q certain blacksmith-shop. He
went to distilery, three miles distant,
where he purchased some brandy, and
some time after William left the house
on horseback, taking with him his gun
and dog, arriving at the blacksmith-shop
at about 8 O'Clock, where he left his
horse and dog, taking bis gun and 60
ing in the direction where the body Of
Preston Finchum was fCGnd. Be
tween 10 and IL o'clock the de
ceased arrived at the shop, gave
the blacksmith a drink, saying he had
plenty more III the bushes, and went otf
in the direction his brother had taken.
In short time William returned. The
blacksmith asked him If he had seen his
brother; he denied having seen him.
The blacksmith informed him Preston
had been there and would return shortly,
but William replied it was useless paying
auy attention to Preston that he was
unreliable when drinking left the gun at
the shop; got on his horse and went
home. Just before William came out of
tho bushes to the blacksmith's the report
Of gun was heard in the direction of the
murder, and an examination of his gun
showed that it had been recently fired.
After the finding OF the body he
exhibited the most brutal unconcern.
When the body was brought home he
affected no interest IN the matter, refus-
Ing TO attend the cOroner's inquest until
compelled. During the trial, ard while
awaiting the decision of his appeal, he
exhibited the same indifference. But on
/ lIlt lDll Ol OClDbtI ldNl, dtltl btNbHlbl-
convinced that all hope of ayerting ms
/ fate was useless. he confessed his guilt OF
/ The murder and the manner of Its com.
mission that he had appointed the
meeting in the woods and sent his
brother for the brandy purposely TO in
! toxicate him and nerve himself for the
murder; that his brother was too dunk
to observe his movements; thai
he stepped behind him suddenly
and shot him in the hend, anc
to make the death of his victim sur,
dubbed him repeatedly on the skull
that his criminal intimacy with the wife
of the deceased was the cause Of the muir
der, and that in order TO continue thi
intimacy with greater security he con
ceived the idea OF numbering hi
brother.
The Finchums were born in Rappahan
mock county. where their parents nov
reside. The brothers came to East Rock
ngham some six years ago and worke(
rs farm-h hands in that section. William
Finchum was about twenty-nine years 0
age. He was very ignorant. He had neye
been to school nor received any religion
training. The case was a sad develop
ment OF moral deprayity and brutal fe
rocity.